European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella will visit Agadir, Morocco to take part in the third edition of the Salon Halieutis. The event, organised by Morocco under the high patronage of King Mohamed VI, focuses on the different economic sectors of the marine fisheries, aquaculture and seafood industries, and will attract 45,000 visitors and exhibitors from over 30 countries.

Commissioner Damanaki took part today in the public hearing on "Traceability of fish products in the EU market: rules of origin and labelling", in the European Parliament.

New traceability rules introduced in 2010 as part of the EU control and enforcement policy allow detecting infringements at any stage of the supply chain - “from net to plate”. This, coupled with technological advances that open up a broad spectrum of traceability tools makes it much easier to tell consumers where fish come from.

Commissioner Damanaki stated: "We are all entitled to reliable information about the food we buy for ourselves and our families. Traceability rules offer protection for rules-abiding European fishermen against unfair competition whether from outside or within the EU and guidance to consumers, who more and more demand to make informed choices." She added: "Transparent and accurate labelling and safeguarding wild resources from overexploitation go hand in hand: information and labelling are one of the essential aspects of the upcoming reform of the common fisheries policy and the revision of the Common Market Organisation will complement general existing foodstuff provisions and care for the peculiarities of the seafood products."